Device for Vee-grafting

ABSTRACT

Device for Vee-grafting, especially for hard-and-stone-fruit trees, with an angled knife (8) for cutting a groove (K) in the stock (10) arranged to move in an outer part (2), formed as a guide space by means of a toggle lever (31, 32, 33), which is inclined in relation to the axis of the stock, characterized in that there is an inner part (3) moveable inside the outer part (2) in the forward region (3&#39;) or front end of which is fitted the knife (8) and in the rear region (3&#34;) of which there is an aperture (7) for the scion (12) and where the outer part (2) has an aperture (4) in its forward region (2&#39;) for the stock (10) and in its rear region (2&#34;) an aperture (5) which can be caused to coincide with the aperture (7) in the inner part (3) and has an angled knife (6) at the forward edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to a device for Vee-grafting, especially forhard-and-stone-fruit trees, with an angled knife for cutting a groove inthe stock arranged to move in an outer part, formed as a guide space bymeans of a toggle lever, which is inclined in relation to the axis ofthe stock.

A prior art device for cutting a notch is described in DE-B-157 072. Anangled knife is manually moved with a lever in a frame inclined againstthe stock such that a notch is cut with an increasing depth. With thatdevice, however, a diametrically opposed wedge on the shaft of the scioncannot be made. As a consequence, such grafting must be made manually,whereby the forming of a notch in the stock and in the diametricallyopposed wedge on the end of the scion generally takes a lot of time. Inaddition, the section planes become easily contaminated, presenting arisk for the grafting operation. It is further disadvantageous that thedevice cannot be disposed on stocks with arbitrary diameters if thelength relative to the depth of the notch in the wooden part should bethe same.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a grafting devicewith which the above-mentioned drawbacks can be avoided.

2. Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, this object is attained in that there is aninner part moveable inside the outer part in the forward region or frontend of which the knife is fitted. In the rear region there is anaperture for the scion where the outer part has an aperture in itsforward region for the stock and in this rear region it has an aperturewhich can be positioned coincidentally with the aperture in the innerpart and it also has an angled knife at the forward edge.

With such a device the above-mentioned object can be attained in anadvantageous manner. The process includes the following steps: movingthe inner part to its starting position along a direction B to theright-hand side, and moving the inner part consecutively to theleft-hand side within the outer part. During that movement in thedirection A, the knife disposed at the forward end of the inner part isguided through the aperture in the forward region of the outer part inan inclination angle Alpha against the stock, which projects throughthis aperture, wherein the aperture and its length and depth is formedby the intersection of the stock with the outer part.

In that way the notch is formed in the stock in a length and depth givenby the special construction of the outer part.

In the same or in a second operation, in which the inner part is movedback to its starting position, the scion is led approximately in acounter angle Alpha' to the angle Alpha through the rear apertures ofthe inner and outer part at the same time and in the same position.During a following movement of the inner part, in direction A, toleft-hand side the shaft of the scion is pushed against the knifedisposed at the forward edge of the rear aperture in the outer partcutting the wedge on the shaft. The knife of the outer part has the sameshape as the knife of the inner part. Therefore, the notch in the stockand the wedge on the shaft of the scion have the same geometry also andcan be combined in a close fit.

As these working procedures can be made very shortly one after the otherand without a possible contamination of the intersection planes, thesuccess of the grafting cannot be affected by drying out or byinsufficient cleanliness during the process.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, theparts moveable within each other and the knives disposed on them areV-shaped, whereas the knife for cutting the notch in the stock has asmaller aperture angle, preferably about 3 degrees, than the knife forcutting the wedge on the scion shaft so that it can be fitted into thenotch by force fit. Preferably the V-edges of the knives are rounded.

When using scions with shaft diameters of 7 to 10 mm it is advantageousif the rear aperture of the inner part has a length of about 4 or 5 cmin the line of the cutting edge. Then the wedge of the scion isapproximately of the same length and the depth of the wedge or thenotch, respectively, is in that case about 5 to 8 mm.

If the respective barks of the stock and the scion are of a verydifferent thickness, the depth and the length of the notch in the stockshould be greater than the wedge of the scion so that, in spite of thethick bark, the cutting depth in the wood of the stock and the wedge arethe same. This can be attained by adjustable edges of the outer part.They can be rotated in an upward direction or moved in a forwarddirection. Because of a greater aperture, the notch has a longer anddeeper intersection depth than the wedge on the scion shaft.

It is also very advantageous to form the rear aperture in the inner partas the intersection of a cylinder inclined to the cutting edge. A scionfitting in this aperture can be easily held in a given angle positionduring cutting of the wedge. Especially for scion shafts not fittingexactly into the aperture of the inner part, it is advantageous that anabutment is situated at the forward end of the aperture against whichthe scion shaft is pressed by the toggle lever during the cutting of thewedge and thus held in the desired way. For holding the scion whilecutting an additional locking lever disposed on the toggle lever, provesto be advantageous. In the starting position, this locking lever firstpresses the scion shaft against the abutment without moving itlengthwise and then, after locking it, moves it together with the innerpart in forward direction.

In a further embodiment the forward and backward regions of the innerand outer parts are separated from each other and arranged parallel orone above the other and the inner parts are actuated either together orindividually. In that way the device is shortened and especially thetaking in and taking out of the scion is easier because of the betteraccessibility. The remaining wood parts can be pushed out easier aftercutting.

A further advantageous possibility consists in moving in the inner parta locking part, which is moved backward against a stopper for releasingthe scion shaft from the inner part and is moved against the shaft forlocking and pressing it against the abutment and moving it together withthe inner part forwardly for consecutive cutting.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the shaft of the scion penetratingthrough the coinciding apertures in the inner and outer parts isventured by a pushing tube which supports the translatory motion againstthe knife in the outer part.

Preferred embodiments are described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. Modifications not specifically described, however, may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. Especially thegeneral usefulness of the device should be noted, e.g. for vine culturesand for ornamental trees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the device according to the invention,showing the slidable inner part above the outer part;

FIG. 1b is a similar view as FIG. 1, showing only the two mutuallymoveable members of the device;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a wedge-shaped notch cut in the stock;

FIG. 2b is a side elevational view of a scion in the scale ofapproximately 1:1;

FIG. 3a is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of theouter part of the device with a pivotable forward edge;

FIG. 3b is a similar view of a third embodiment of the outer part with aslidable forward edge of the aperture;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a scion penetrating through the innerand outer parts of the device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of separated inner and outer parts showingthe forward and rear regions thereof;

FIG. 6 is a similar view of the forward and rear regions disposed aboveone another;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing a lever mechanism formoving the inner part and for locking the scion shaft;

FIG. 8 is a similar view of an alternative embodiment with ascrew-spindle and a cam for actuating the inner part; and

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c are three diagrammatic views of mutually matingstock and scion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the grafting device 1 in a schematic view. The graftingdevice comprises two parts, preferably with similar profiles. The innerpart 3 is arranged moveably in the outer part 2 and for betterdemonstration drawn separately as above. The inner part 3 is moved toits starting position by means of the toggle lever 31, 32, 33 to theright-hand side in direction B, and for cutting in direction A to theleft-hand side. During this time a notch K is cut in the stock 10 by theknife 8 arranged on the inner part 3 and by the knife 6 the wedge K' onthe scion 12. For protection the knife 8 of the inner part 3 can beplaced behind the forward edge.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the knife 8 of theinner part 3, respectively to a length of the notch K the forward region3' has an aperture angle Beta' which is smaller than the aperture angleBeta of the knife 6 of the outer part 2 so that the wedge K' can befitted into the notch K with a press fit.

With reference to FIG. 2, the scion 12 fits into the notch K with itscut wedge K' on the shaft 12'. The notch K is cut into the stock 10.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown:

a) the rotatable edge of the aperture 4 about the rotating axis 4'" forenlarging the depth of the notch. As in the case of a very thick bark,the total notch depth must be adequately deeper to get sufficiently deepinto the wood of the stock. The deviance of the form of the changedaperture geometry compared with the constant form of the wedge on theshaft can be tolerated to a certain extent due to the elasticity of thewood, depending on the kind of wood. The deepening of the notch K canalso be attained according to

b) a parallel translation of the forward edge 4" for creating a longeraperture region, whereas the section angle remains the same.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 12' of the scion 12 is for cutting thewedge K' at the same time leading through the rear aperture 7 of theinner part 3 and the rear aperture 5 of the outer part 2 as well. Theinner part 3 is then moved from this starting position in direction A.During this time the knife 6 is cutting the wedge K' on the shaft 12',which is preferably leading through an exact intersection of the lateralside planes or the body of the inner part 3, respectively, in a counterangle Alpha' to the angle Alpha.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment, at which the forward regions 2', 3' areseparated from the rear regions 2", 3" of the outer parts 2 and theinner parts 3 and are formed as parallelly arranged individual devicesand, as shown schematically, affixed by webs 16.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in which the rear regions 2", 3" arearranged above the forward regions 2', 3'. Both of these devices are, asschematically shown, affixed by webs 16'. In both of the above-mentionedembodiments, the separated devices could be driven either individuallyor together.

It is possible that for locking or centering the shaft 12' of the scion12 a centering or pushing tube 19 is arranged at the rear end of theaperture 7 of the inner part 3, which exerts a force on the scion 12during the cutting.

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal view of the toggle lever system 31, 32, 33for moving the inner parts 3, 3', 3", respectively, as demonstrated inthe example of the inner part 3", whereby the handle 17 of the lever 31is in its end position after having cut the wedge K' while the dashedline represents the starting position. The lever 31, by which the shaft12' of the scion 12 is pressed against the abutment 9 can be movedagainst a stopper 28 when the device is empty. The toggle lever system31, 32, 33 is supported on a beam 15 mounted on the outer part 3 bymeans of a shaft 14 on the one hand and at the shaft 18 or at sidewardsfulcrums 18' on the inner part 3 on the other hand. In the last case thelever 33 is formed as a twin lever. The movement of the inner part 3 inthe direction B is made for catching the stock 10 or for loading thescion 12 into the device and then for the consecutive cutting in thedirection A.

FIG. 8 shows in a longitudinal section a locking part 20 moveable in theinner part 3 or 3" respectively, which is actuated by a screw spindle 34and a cam 35, whereby the screw spindle 34, after selection of a properthread pitch, can be actuated by means of the spindle shaft 30 manuallyas well as by an electric motor. The spindle 34 is held by a beam 22,which is flanged to the outer part 2, 2', 2", respectively. When movingthe locking part 20 in the direction A, it touches either at first aloaded scion 12 or, if the device is empty, a forward stopper 21 in theinner part 3 and moves then the inner part 3 to the left-hand side. Forreleasing the scion 12, the locking part 20 is moved in the inner part 3about a distance w to the right-hand side and then moves the inner part3 by contacting it on a stopper 21' in the direction B to its startingposition.

I claim:
 1. Device for Vee-grafting, comprising:a V-shaped outer part defining a longitudinal axis; a V-shaped inner part adapted to slidingly move in said outer part along said longitudinal axis; means for moving said inner part in said outer part along said longitudinal axis; said V-shaped outer part having a forward aperture formed therein for partly receiving a stock into which a V-shaped groove is to be cut; and having a rear aperture formed therein for receiving a scion; an angled knife formed at said rear aperture for cutting the scion when said inner part is moved in said outer part along said longitudinal axis; and an angled knife operatively associated with said forward aperture for cutting the V-shaped groove in the stock when said inner part is moved in said outer part along said longitudinal axis.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said angled knives respectively formed at said rear aperture and associated with said forward aperture are V-shaped and are provided with rounded edge regions.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said angled knives respectively formed at said rear aperture and associated with said forward aperture are V-shaped and are provided with bow-like edge regions.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said angled knife formed at said rear aperture is a V-shaped knife defining a given opening angle and said knife associated with said forward aperture is a V-shaped knife defining an opening angle greater than said given opening angle.
 5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting an edge of said forward aperture.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving comprise a toggle lever mechanism, said toggle lever mechanism including a locking lever for locking the scion against one of said outer and inner parts while the inner part is moved in said outer part along said longitudinal axis.
 7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising stoppers projecting into a moving path of said locking lever, and including a cam and a spindle for moving said cam, said locking part being connected with said cam.
 8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pusher tube disposed in a rear region of said inner part for centering and pushing a shaft of the scion during a cutting operation. 